Definition

Causes

Chordee occurs when the baby is developing in the womb. It is sometimes due to a shortened urethra or having thick tissue around the urethra. The urethra is the tube that connects the bladder to the outside of the body so that urine can exit. Other times, the problem may be due to the skin on the bottom side of the penis being too short. The reason is unknown.

Risk Factors

Chordee is more common in children with hypospadiasor a a family history of hypospadias. With this condition, the opening of the urethra is on the bottom of the penis instead of at the tip of the penis.

Symptoms

Chordee causes the penis to be curved. It does not cause pain.

Diagnosis

The condition may be diagnosed during a physical exam. A specialist called a urologist may do a procedure to create an artificial erection. This allows the doctor to examine the penis. Chordee may also be found during surgery to fix another problem that affects the penis.

This condition may not be detected until later in childhood.

Treatment

In mild cases, surgery may not be needed. Your child's condition will be monitored. In other cases,
surgery
may be done to straighten the penis. The curved appearance will be straightened by:

Removing tissue that is curving the erection

Making the longer and shorter sides of the penis equal in length

Lengthening the urethra if the urethra is short—tissue from the foreskin or another site will be used

Surgery is usually done in children aged 6-18 months.

Prevention

There is no known way to prevent this condition.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), National Guideline Clearinghouse. Guidelines on penile curvature. AHRQ, National Guideline Clearinghouse website. Available at:
http://www.guideline.gov/content.aspx?id=37628&search=congenital+penile+curvature
. Published February 2012. Accessed September 11, 2014.